SC pledges to eradicate pollution in Delhi

India’s top court Wednesday ordered a moratorium on large, new diesel cars in New Delhi in a string of tough measures aimed at cleaning up the world’s most polluted capital. It clarified that the ban that will be operational from January 1, 2016 to March 31, will not include passenger cars whose engine capacity is below 2000 cc.

It added that buyers of diesel vehicles should pay environment compensation charge while getting their cars registered.

The green panel’s observation came while hearing a plea by five Delhi based auto dealers who had sought modification of December 11 order which said there would be no registration of new diesel vehicles in Delhi.

The Green cess being levied on commercial vehicles entering Delhi has been raised by 100 per cent.

Further the court directed the authorities, including the local bodies and institutions within the National Capital Region (NCR), to refrain from disposing of solid waste by burning such waste and to take steps for proper management in a scientific manner as per the norms and the relevant rules.

The apex court also observed that diesel make cars are producing 23% more pollution and carcinogens than petrol make cars and hence the court passed a law stating banning all diesel make cars above 2000 CC.

The Delhi government today suggested the Supreme Court that the issue of diesel vehicles can be successfully tackled, provided the registration of all diesel vehicles is banned by all neighbouring States. All taxis have also been ordered to convert to CNG by March 31.

It asked the Central Pollution Control Board and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to enforce construction norms strictly to stop builders from polluting the NCR region. “The government needs to work hard to ensure that the court’s decisions are implemented”, Roy Chowdhury said.

Delhi’s air routinely worsens in winter months as millions of poor people light fires to stay warm and as cooler air and clouds trap pollutants.

“A ban on registration of such vehicles will not therefore affect the common man or the average citizen in Delhi”, the court said.